Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel, wrote the Proverbs so that people would know skillful and godly wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight, receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice and integrity [Proverbs 1:2-3_Amp].
"If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind...[James 1:5-6_Amp]."Scripture says we must go to God in faith and without doubting, when we seek wisdom; and I will explain the reason. If you went to a friend you considered a sage; you would expect to receive the right advice that would help you in making an immediate decision or give you insight for a future plan. You wouldn't go with a negative or pessimistic attitude; but you would have a sense of expectancy and believe the advice offered would be the best for you. This is how you should go to God: expecting by faith to receive His best counsel for your life.
There's great benefit in seeking out and heeding the Proverbs. A wise person will seek to gain more wisdom; but the foolish despise skillful and godly wisdom [Proverbs 1:7b_KJV]. Having a reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Because I revere and worship the Lord, I am always ready to receive His wisdom for my day to day life. It becomes the norm for me to seek Him at all times and under various situations. I have free access to His wisdom 24/7 and so can you.
Parents, who trust God have access to His wisdom, which they should teach their children. Wise children will never shame their parents; and as they mature; they will learn the benefits of heeding godly counsel or the detriment of rejecting it and following foolish friends. Sometimes, friends can entice others to do things that are not moral and/or will cause a loss to their victims.
"My son, if sinners (those not following and obeying God) entice you, do not consent. If they say, 'Come with us; let us lie in wait [to shed] blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause [and show that his piety is in vain] (Proverbs 1:11_Amp)..."Wisdom instructs us to associate with wise people; because we become like the company we keep. "He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart [suffer] for it (Proverbs 13:20_Amp)." Foolishness will always be at your heels and enticing you to yield to its ways; but wisdom cries out for us to heed her call and disregard the invitation of foolishness.
"WISDOM cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets; She cries at the head of the noisy intersections [in the chief gathering places]; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 'How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge? If you will turn [repent] and give heed to my reproof, behold I [Wisdom} will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you [Proverbs 1:22-23_Amp].'"TUNE your ear to Wisdom; and you will be able to heed her call; and will be made wise. If you ignore wisdom, go your own way--only to fail and come back crying and calling; she will not answer you.
"Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man heeded it, And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic--- When panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as whirl wind, when distress and anguish come upon you, Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me [Proverbs 1:24-28_Amp]..."Wisdom is time-sensitive, which means we must be ready to hear and heed it [her] quickly. Keep your ears open for godly counsel and you will avoid disaster. Reading the Proverbs will increase your understanding about yourself and others. The wisdom of the Proverbs will help you to stay in a safe place and away the wrong people, who prey on others as sport. We also learn by wisdom that, although we think and make our plans, a wise answer [about the plan] will always come from the Lord. Wisdom knows that it is better to commit personal works unto the Lord and rest in His peace about things [Proverbs 16:1,3_KJV].
Wisdom is discreet and knows how to behave in sensitive situations with volatile people. A wise person knows how to treat others regardless of their status and will never mock the poor or be glad at other's calamity; therefore he will avoid punishment [Proverbs 17:5_KJV]. "Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you [Proverbs 2:11_Amp]." Through wisdom, your life can be prolonged. "For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased (Proverbs 9:11_Amp)."
Wisdom benefits us in every area of our lives to include family. It will enable a
woman to build her house and not tear it down. "EVERY WISE woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands [Proverbs 14:1_Amp]."
There is so much you can learn from the Proverbs; so I invite you to read one each day to gain wisdom and/or increase your understanding of what you have already learned. Your life won't be free of problems; but it will full of godly counsel that will instruct you through the rough places in your life.
"WISDOM is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding [Proverbs. 4:7_KJV]."
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